News About This Theater

Originally built in 1914 with a dirt floor. The 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook gives a seating capacity for the Clinton Theatre as 540. It was renovated in 1949 and was given an Art Deco style facade.

Now known as the Cinema, it is now the oldest, continuously run, single-screen theater in Rochester, NY.

Since the theatre business is stuggling we encourage the owner of the theatre to host more special events like Indian movie screening. I am in Rochester I tried to contact the owner of the theatre, she is very poor in communication. I called and left messages many times, emailed NO RESPONSE. This is not good. We need to try hard to keep this business going on.

Attractive simple deco but I could not tolerate the way that the titles are scrunched on the reader board—was almost to think that it was a limiting design fault except that there is a picture with proper spacing. Drivers should not have to try to decipher the marquee titles.

I lived down the street from The Cinema for almost two years while in college. It was easily my favorite place to see a movie in Rochester. Second-run, three-dollar double features were the main attraction. As well as the simple Art Deco design, comfy seats, house kittens who sat on your lap, and the fact that I could look down the street, see the Marquee, and decide if I wanted to venture down the block or not. I saw many memorable double bills here, easily ingratiating myself as a regular. The staff were always super-friendly with me and obliging with the free refills.

I haven’t made it back to The Cinema since I left Rochester but I am happy to hear this place is still up-and-running. In two years, it will hit the century mark, perhaps making it the longest running independent movie house in the Northeast? I don’t know for sure but I do know that The Cinema is a treasure and a bargain.

I have a letter dated September 29, 1927, typed on stationary with a Clinton Theatre letterhead. It details “specifications for Clinton Theatre main roof”. Below CLINTON THEATRE is: South Clinton and Goodman Streets. Below that, is: High Class Photoplays. In the upper left corner is: Office, 366 Main Street West. In the upper right: Phone, Main 6229.